July 10, 2010 - A pair of restaurants won two awards each at the 2010 Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS.

The dual award winning restaurants are Chester's Cajun Grill in East Amherst and Orazio's in Clarence. Chester's blackened shrimp over Cajun rice won both the People's Choice Award and Best Seafood Item. Orazio's beans and greens soup took second place in the Independent Health Foundation's Healthy Options contest and the restaurant's seafood fusilli was awarded the New York Award by Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul.

"The diversity of this year's awards is a snapshot of the many food items that are being offered at this year's Taste," said Mac Hartman, 2010 Taste chairman. "There is a sense of pride in looking at all our winners."

The judging took place on July 10 by a panel of honorary judges including representatives from the Buffalo-Niagara media, political and business sector. One award, the "Chairman's Choice" was selected by Hartman, while another, the "People's Choice" was selected from on-street polling. Riley and Alex Hartman, children of this year's Taste chairman, "Children's Choice" award.

The 2010 winners were:
• People's Choice: Chester's Cajun Grill from East Amherst for their blackened shrimp over Cajun rice.

• Chairman's Choice: Ms. Goodies from Buffalo for their Junkyard Dog

• Children's Choice: Nick Charlaps Ice Cream from Hamburg for their chocolate vanilla twist cone

• Lou Billitier Memorial "Rookie of the Year" Award: Papaya Restaurant from Buffalo

• Best Dessert: Landies Candies from Buffalo for their strawberry kabobs

• Best Wine: Glenora Wine Cellars from Dundee for their dry Riesling

• Best Overall Food: Torches in Kenmore for their Nickel City Mac & Cheese

• Best Meat Item: Dinosaur BBQ from Rochester for their pork sliders

• Best Seafood Item: Chester's Cajun Grill for their blackened shrimp over Cajun rice

• Best Vegetarian Item: Bing's from Amherst for their artichoke gratinee

• Best Comfort Food (selected by Erie County Legislator Lynn Marinelli): Anderson's Frozen Custard from Amherst for their Pecan Turtle Crunch

• New York Award (chosen by Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul):Orazio's for their seafood fusilli

• Pat Sardina Memorial Award: EM Chrusciki Bakery in Buffalo for their caramel confusion

• Independent Health Healthy Choice Options:

• First place: Giacobbi's Pasta and Pizza in Hamburg for their turkey meatball in marinara
• Second Place: Orazio's for their beans and greens soup
• Third Place: Saigon Café from Buffalo for their summer roll

Click here to view all of the the 2010 winners.

The Taste of Buffalo, presented by TOPS, runs through 9 p.m. today and Sunday, July 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo. For more information visit www.tasteofbuffalo.com.